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Title: Antagonists
Author: Cale Young Rice [ More Titles by Rice]
I Life flung to Art this voice, of mercy bare. "Fool, to my human earth come you, so free, To wreathe with phantom immortality Whoever climbs with passionate lone care That shifting, feverous and shadow stair To Beauty--which is vainer than the sea On furious thirst, or than a mote to Me Who fill yon infinite great Everywhere? Let them alone--my children! they are born To mart and soil and saving commerce o'er Wind, wave and many-fruited continents. And you can feed them but of crumbs and scorn, And futile glory when they are no more. Within my hand alone is recompense!" II
But Art made fierce reply, "Anathema, On you who fill flesh but the spirit scorn. Who give it to the unrequiting law Of your brute soullessness and heart unborn To aught than barter in your low bazaar-- Though Beauty die for it from star to star. You are the god of Judas and those who Betrayed Him unto nail and thorn and sword! Of that relentless worm-bit Florence horde Who drove lone Dante from them till he grew So great in death they begged his bones to strew Their pride and wealth and useless praise upon. Anathema! I cry; and will, till none Of all earth's children still shall worship you."
[The end] Cale Young Rice's poem: Antagonists ________________________________________________
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